User:M.O.X/Adoption/Policies

''Note: This lesson assumes you are new to Wikipedia, or have little knowledge of the core rules of Wikipedia. It assumes you are "at the beginning". Either way, this lesson would serve new and experienced editors well.''

''This lesson aims to be as detailed as possible, however some details might be missing. If you have any questions, ask Fridae'sDoom on his talk page.''

Welcome to Wikipedia. The main purpose of Wikipedia is to produce a high quality encyclopedia. Normally, you can get by quite fine by simply using common sense, and many Wikipedia policies are based around common sense. Some of these policies are very important, and should be followed at all times, others are more informal, and you will learn these over time. If in doubt, use common sense. If what you do seems sensible, it normally will be. Be bold in editing Wikipedia articles, because no matter what edits you make, if you make a mistake, they can be fixed later. Don't feel like you need to learn all the rules before you can edit, you don't. Ignorance of the rules of Wikipedia is an excuse. Obviously, you should try to pick up on policies when you can, and take on the advice of Wikipedians who offer it, if you do happen to make a mistake. But don't worry. We all were new once.

The remainder of this lesson will summarise a guide for editing Wikipedia, when it comes to basic editing rules, as well as policies that need to be followed.

The core
All policies are centred upon assuming good faith, were we not to assume good faith vandals would be blocked on-sight, test edits would be discouraged, users wouldn't be bold and do what others dare not to do. It would cause Wikipedia to collapse, what we have is an egalitarian society, whereby no one is special or exempt from rules but are given equal chances and opportunities.

The five pillars are the fundamental guidelines/principles by which Wikipedia operates. The Statement of Principles, written in October 2001 by Jimmy Wales, was the predecesor to these pillars and set the cornerstone for Wikipedia's operation. Without these core principles almost all of Wikipedia's articles would be subject to editorialising, systematic bias, advertising and be full of unsourced and challenge-able statements.

The basics

 * Sign your posts to talk pages. Signing posts to talk pages is done by inserting 4 tildes (~), which inserts your signature, and the current date and time. Doing this allows editors to know who said what on talk pages. However, remember, do not sign your edits to articles.
 * Use edit summaries - Using edit summaries allows other editors to see what you changed in an edit. Especially when you are new, removing or adding a large amount of content, without an edit summary, may lead recent changes patrollers to undo your edits. Using edit summaries makes it easier for other editors to review your contributions, and in general is considered good practice.
 * Use common sense - Using common sense on Wikipedia can go a long way, especially when you aren't familiar with the common policies. You wouldn't swear at someone in real life. You wouldn't spray paint over a building. Common sense can really help. If in doubt, on Wikipedia, think "Would I do this in real life? and if the answer is No, then don't do it, or ask for help from someone.
 * Don't vandalise
 * Be civil. Yelling and screaming, regardless of any issues you may be having with someone else, doesn't really help. Approaching situations with a calm and collected approach will make other users more welcome to your opinion. It's common courtesy too, remember, treat others how you want to be treated.
 * Don't undo someone else's edit repeatedly without proper discussion - On Wikipedia, there may become times where someone makes an edit you don't agree with. The Bold edit, revert, and discuss cycle encourages users to discuss changes that they don't agree with, on the associated talk page, rather than undo each other's edits repeatedly. This sort of behaviour can lead to blocks, too. It's generally the best solution to discuss issues, that way compromises can be achieved.
 * Assume that other editors are making edits to try to help the encyclopedia - People make edits all the time. Some are excellent, others not so good. Do try and realise that there is a difference between vandalising Wikipedia and simply being ignorant or unaware of policies. Unless completely obvious and blatant, assume editors are doing what they can to improve the encyclopedia.
 * When you write articles, add sources to show that you found the info in a reliable source, like a newspaper - It's important to add references to what you wrote, like a newspaper. Something that "you know" or heard of shouldn't be added to Wikipedia unless you saw it in a newspaper. Make sure it's relevant to the article you wish to add it to. This is a complex policy, so don't hesitate to ask questions.
 * Make sure that the topic you want to write about merits an article - Notability is one of the complex policies on Wikipedia, but in short, if it has received significant coverage in reliable secondary sources, it may warrant an article. Read over the notability policy carefully, but don't worry too much. It takes a long time to understand some policies. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
 * Make edits boldly - See a page that interests you? Add to it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. A large majority of edits made to articles were made boldly, and remember that Wikipedia is a large community of many editors, and if you make a mistake, someone will fix it up and point it out to you. Don't be afraid :). Editing Wikipedia initially can be daunting, but remember, we were all new once.

''This is just a basic summary of some key policies, just to get you going. There are many policies on Wikipedia, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.''

The assignment
In a few paragraphs, explain to me on my talk page what you have learned. I don't want you to regurgitate what I've written here, or what's on policy pages. Do it in your own words, please.